Portable desk.



A. JAMES.

PORTABLE DESK. APPLICATION FILED MAR. e. 1917.

Patented June 11, 1918.

INVENTOR A 9072mm WITNESSES ATTORNEY are.

PORTABLE DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1111, 11918.

Application filed March 6, 1917. Serial No. 152,647.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW JAMEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable Desks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furniture, and more especially to desks which are portable; and the object ,of the same is to make a desk in two parts or members whereof the base member is in effect a foldable table and the top member is of a size to be inclosed within the table or base when the latter is folded.

This object is carried out by constructing the parts with especial reference to each other, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed and as shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the base member, looking upward at its under side and showing it opened out and ready for use.

Fig 2 is a perspective view on a smaller section through one of the legs of the table and the keeper therefor. v

The base member corresponds in many respects with the structure of a folding table, save that it is made with special re erence to what it is to contain when it is folded, and in order to give it the greatest capacity as a receptacle or container I make its side rails and.end rails rather deep and cause the legs to fold closely along the side rails so that the space between the two parts will be practically uninterrupted.

Referring now to the Specific details of construction, the table top is in two parts 1 and 2 which a'but edge to edge when the table is folded as seen in Fig. 3. From the inner edge of each part depends a mid-rail 3 paralleling the side rail 4, and the ends of these two rails are connected by end rails 5-all made rather deep as suggested above. Hinges 6 connect the lower edges of the two mid-rails, and a hook and eye attachment 7 is provided on the outer face of each pair of end rails. The hinges permit the folding of this structure into box-like shape as seen in Fig. 3, and the hooks and .eyes

are obviously for holding the structure distended as seen in Fig. 1. For locking the box-like structure in that position, one or more locks 8 may be inset into one side rail, and keepers 9 into the other, the keepers engaging the locks when the parts are closed as will be clear.

Within the angle formed between each side rail and end rail is disposed a leg 10. Whatever the construction of the lower port1on of this leg, its upper part is by preference square as seen at 11 and fits closely within the angle or corner, and its upper end is hinged as at 12 beneath the table-top section 1 or 2 so that the leg may fold closely upward alongside the side rail 1 or may turn downward as seen in Fig. 1 and rest closely in the angle. For holding it in the lastnamed position, a keeper 13 is provided, one end attached to one of'the rails, its body made in two parts hinged together as at 14, and its other end or member provided with a set screw 15 which is adapted to co-act with a threaded socket in the leg to advance the same into the angle provided by said side and end rails, to maintain an embracing contact of said keepers with said legs and to retain the same in their extended position. Attention is directed to the fact that the legs all fold along the side rails, or longitudinally of the base member instead of transversely thereof; and, as the fold-line of the table top extends longitudinally, this part folds transversely. The result is that in its folded condition all legs lie along one side of the box-like structure, which side is made up of the two side rails edge to edge, and there is nothing interposed between these legs and the opposite side of said structure, which side is made up of the two mid-rails edge to edge; and of course there is nothing between the ends of the structure made up of the end rails edge to edge. This gives a considerable clear space within the structure which we might now call a con tainer, and obviously anything could be contained. and locked therein.

l have shown and described my invention as a portable desk, but thus far I have described only the base portion thereof which is in effect a folding table. The other member best seen in Fig. 2 is the top of the desk, whose structure need not be described in detail. As shown it includes a set of pigeon holes 20 and a folding leaf 21, but no restriction whatever is placed upon its con- 5 vided with slide leaves 22 as lndicated in Fig. 1, and these could be'drawn out as in an ordinary desk and aiford more area for use of the person sitting thereat. If care is taken in manufacturing the top member, it may be made of just such proportions that it fits closely between the end rails 5 and between the several legs at one side and the mid-rails 3 at the other, and therefore when it is stored within the base member While the latter is folded, it might not slip about therein. Obviously whatever the user has within the pigeon holes or contained within the top member, is housed within the base member when the latter becomes a container, and is secured therein by means of the locks. The Whole may be provided with suitable means such as handles 23 for carrying it about, or I might use a surrounding strap or other structure forming no part of the present invention. As to material, I would make this entire device very light, as of thin Wood or of sheet metal as far as possible, because in its entirety with some papers ma am et cetera contained, it will be too unwieldy and too heavy to carry successfully if it is made as large as the ordinary desk. Although not so shown in the drawings, when the table is opened out and hooked as at 7 and the legs opened out and fastened as at 15, the top member is taken out and placed upon the table and the whole becomes a desk for use wherever the owner may elect.

What is claimed as new is K A folding table comprising a pair of hinged leafosections having mid rails, side rails and end rails depending therefrom, legs pivoted in the angles formed by said side and end rails, a threaded socket member in each leg and a device associated with each leg for holding the same in a fixed condition when extended, said device comprising a fixed section secured to the adjacent end rail, a hinged section supported from the fixed section and a set screw carried by the hinged section, adjustable in the socket member of the leg and serving to move the leg into the angle between the adjacent side and end rails.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANDREW JAMES. 

